THE Irish Pony Show Jumping team won Friday’s Nations Cup at Chevenez in Switzerland, after a brilliant performance under chef d’equipe Denis Flannelly.

Cork’s Abbie Sweetnam was first out for Ireland with Dynamite Spartacus and they produced a perfect double clear round. Co Down’s Charlotte Houston and Sweet Whispers picked up 10 faults in round one and came home with just one fence down second time out. Tipperary’s Tom Wachman had four faults in round one with Flintstone B and jumped a clear in the second. Athlone’s Kate Derwin with the Connemara Pony Cul Ban Mistress jumped clear in round one and didn’t need to jump in the deciding round with victory in the bag for Ireland on an eight-fault total. The Netherlands finished second on 22 faults, with Germany third on 30 faults. Switzerland finished fourth on 35 faults ahead of Belgium in fifth on 45.